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Port of Portland Headquarters

About

Established in 1891 by the Oregon legislature, the Port of Portland today owns four marine terminals, three airports (Portland International, Hillsboro, and Troutdale) and six industrial properties. The mission of the Port is to enhance the region’s economy and quality of life by providing efficient cargo and air passenger access to national and global markets. The most recent economic impact study shows that the Port generated 27,000 jobs, $1.75 billion in wages, salaries and consumption impacts and nearly $166 million in state and local taxes in 2014.

In 2010, the Port of Portland moved into a new 200,000 square-foot, LEED Platinum headquarters building atop the long-term parking garage at Portland International Airport. The building was designed to reduce energy use, conserve water, and use sustainable building materials. The office space is estimated to use 36 percent less energy than a similar office building its size. The long-term parking garage beneath it, built in conjunction with the headquarters, uses 78 percent less energy than a similarly-sized garage. Onsite water treatment and reuse with a Living Machine® system saves around 360,000 gallons of water per year, making the building about 75 percent more water efficient than an office building of similar size.

Achievements

The Port purchases 100 percent certified renewable energy for Port-wide electricity use and is a founding member of The Climate Registry. Ranked 10th nationally in Local Government green power purchasers, Green Power Partner, Environmental Protection Agency (2013).

Building can be heated and cooled without the direct consumption of fossil fuels. Building temperature is maintained by a passive radiant panel thermal system connected to a closed-loop ground source heat pump system.

Composting, recycling and employee outreach and education contribute to the building’s 84 percent landfill diversion rate. In addition, the Port has hosted a number of Zero Waste (90 percent or greater landfill waste diversion rate) meetings and events.

Fleet vehicles primarily consist of hybrid and electric models.

Wastewater is treated onsite with a Living Machine® system, which uses tidal wetland-like processes. It is the largest commercial office building application of its kind in the western United States

The Port operates under an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS). Interdisciplinary teams of employees meet regularly to identify opportunities for continual improvement in the areas of air quality, energy efficiency, natural resource management, water quality and conservation, and waste minimization. The Port’s ISO 14001:2004 EMS certified Port-wide, November 2014 and is audited by an independent third-party annually.